Blumenthal wins Dem endorsement by acclamation at CT convention

posted at 11:25 am on May 22, 2010 by Ed Morrissey

If Democrats wanted to push Richard Blumenthal off of the ticket for the US Senate in Connecticut, they had an opportunity last night. Instead, they initially blocked competing candidate Merrick Alpert from speaking, and his subsequent withdrawal led to an endorsement by acclamation for the Attorney General who got exposed as a fabulist about his service during the Vietnam War era. Blumenthal still didn’t apologize after taking the stage to Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”:

With several references to his problems of the past week, Richard Blumenthal accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate on Friday night by saying that he might be outspent but will never be outworked or intimidated in this fall’s election.

Blumenthal’s campaign is still reeling from the controversy caused by his videotaped speech in Norwalk in 2008 in which he said he had served in Vietnam – when he actually served stateside during the war in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.

“I have made mistakes,” Blumenthal told the crowd at the state Democratic Party nominating convention in Hartford. “I regret them. And I have taken responsibility. But this campaign must be about the people of Connecticut.”

Has he? In his strange press conference at the VFW on Tuesday — an organization for which Blumenthal doesn’t qualify for membership — Blumenthal passed off his claims as poor choices of words. He characterized the criticism as an attack on his otherwise honorable service as a way of claiming victimization from his own actions. Far from taking responsibility, Blumenthal conducted a blame-throwing exercise that was so breathtaking in its cynicism that even the media and a strategist from his own party couldn’t swallow it.

Blumenthal’s cynicism was matched by that of his party’s leadership. Apparently afraid that Merrick Alpert might say something to win the endorsement, they blocked him from speaking at all:

On the night that Democrats intended to coronate Blumenthal as their nominee for U.S. Senator, his opponent, Merrick Alpert, was initially prevented from speaking at the party convention. But after votes had been cast for Blumenthal by many delegations, Alpert suddenly appeared at the podium.

“I would like to formally withdraw my name from nomination,” Alpert said shortly before 8 p.m. That line generated enthusiastic applause from the crowd. “We’re going to have an early dinner. Good night.” …

Alpert released a copy of the speech that he intended to deliver – as he struggled to try to reach the minimum of 15 percent of the delegates that are necessary to force a primary.

“You deserve a primary. We need a primary,” Alpert said in his prepared remarks.

Known for his outspokenness, Alpert had prepared to tell the delegates that he believes the recent controversies of the past week would cause the Democrats to lose the U.S. Senate election in November. He included remarks that many of the delegates clearly would not want to hear on their party’s big night.

“We’re not ready to win the Senate election,” Alpert said in his remarks. “My assessment is if the general election were held this Tuesday, we would lose. After the events of this week, the polls confirm my assessment.”

So far, the polls have been at least tight, and Blumenthal’s rapid descent over the past week may make Alpert a genius in retrospect. Blumenthal might survive, but once a candidate looks dishonest, it’s hard to bounce back. Alpert tried to give Democrats some breathing space to recover if Blumenthal implodes, and they may well live to regret having gagged him instead of taking his advice.

The only thing that will confirm Blumenthal’s election is a good sex scandal. Preferably with a young boy AND a dead girl. Democrats loves them their politicians who have absolutely no decency. Assures election every time…

If Blumenthal had served IN Viet-Nam he would have received the Vietnamese Service Medal and the Vietnamese Campaign Servise Medal and if had been IN combat he would have received the Combat Action Ribbon.

In other words, Democrats in Connecticut are more than willing to elect a bald-faced liar to the Senate, a man who by lying that he served in Viet Nam insults veterans all over this country, especially those who did indeed serve in Viet Nam during the war!

If Blumenthal had served IN Viet-Nam he would have received the Vietnamese Service Medal and the Vietnamese Campaign Servise Medal and if had been IN combat he would have received the Combat Action Ribbon.
fourdeucer on May 22, 2010 at 12:20 PM

Bloomer couldn’t be given those medals because he wasn’t officially in Vietname. He was assigned to a special covert team of Ninja Commando Assassins based out of Vin Din, or Phuk Yoo, or Ding Hao, or something like that. Top secret anyway so back off.

What do you expect from a party that has Tim Geithner in charge of the IRS, Charlie Rangel chairing the Ways and Means committee, and Barney Frank chairing the House Banking committee? Shamelessness is their stock in trade.

“We will promote these values above all by living them — through our fidelity to the rule of law and our Constitution, even when it’s hard; and through our commitment to forever pursue a more perfect union,” he said.

Right Barry, except when you and your cronies choose to ignore the rule of law—-(see Arizona law)

I wish I owned a TV or radio station here in CT because both sides are going to dump a TON of money hammering each other. The last one to deliver a blow may well end up the winner. Either way I think CT is the loser and we’ll have only ourselves to blame. Democracy, it’s a b!tch.

Now, you don’t have to be in combat, just in the theater, and not even during the period of hostilities. Case in point: me. I qualified originally for VFW membership due to the Southwest Asia Service Medal, although I was in San Diego for the entirety of Desert Shield and Storm. SWASM was awarded for service between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995, and I was in the area in 1992. I also now also qualify due to the GWOT-Expeditionary Medal, having gone to the very same spot (Persian Gulf) I received the SWASM in 2006.

But Blumenthal would not have received anything more than the National Defense Service Medal – and it is pointedly absent from the VFW list, as it was given to anyone who served, anywhere during designated periods.

But Blumenthal would not have received anything more than the National Defense Service Medal – and it is pointedly absent from the VFW list, as it was given to anyone who served, anywhere during designated periods.

JeffWeimer on May 22, 2010 at 1:03 PM

I agree. If, and only if, he was on AD or in the reserves during the period during Vietnam, and stayed in CONUS, then an NDSM is all that he would qualify for.

These Dems are amazing and so are the depths of stupidity of their voters. They show us everday the contempt they hold for this country and its citizens and yet they still have faithfull voters. How does one live in the best country the world has ever seen and HATE IT?

I agree. If, and only if, he was on AD or in the reserves during the period during Vietnam, and stayed in CONUS, then an NDSM is all that he would qualify for.

ted c on May 22, 2010 at 1:05 PM

We got our NDSM right out of basic in San Diego (or as the Marines of Paris Island called it Hollywood) and along with our rifle qualifying badge that was it. If he didn’t even get the Marksman, Sharpshooter or Expert badge how did he ever make E-5?

Thanks DNC, this should officially hand us the CT seat in the senate. I hope linda goes for the jugular and puts up an ad looping all the times this ass claimed he during in ‘Nam.

1 down 9 to go.

Archimedes on May 22, 2010 at 11:34 AM

I hope you’re right, but I don’t know. Most Democrats seem to have a barely concealed contempt for military people. I think a lot of Conn. Dems will see Blumenthal’s fakery as no big deal and some will even applaud it. I mean, what better way to demonstrate one’s contempt for the military than to enthusiastically support a faux-vet. Military service and honor are completely meaningless to these people.

This is one of the most antibusiness candidates in the US. He has chased a lot of jobs and businesses out of Connecticut. And the voters thought that was great! He had a 20 point lead in the polls. Why are we going to follow in the footsteps of Greece? Because of the voters – their ignorance, indifference, greed (“gimme”) and just plain stupidity.

We got our NDSM right out of basic in San Diego (or as the Marines of Paris Island called it Hollywood) and along with our rifle qualifying badge that was it. If he didn’t even get the Marksman, Sharpshooter or Expert badge how did he ever make E-5?

Blumenthal still didn’t apologize after taking the stage to Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down”:

Fitting choice of music. As Petty said in a 2006 interview:

“The war in Iraq is shameful. Whether you’re pro or con Bush, you’ve got to admit it: The guy lied. And he continues to do so. I can’t understand why he’s just not run out on a rail. To send somebody’s kids off and have them killed for no good reason — he’s going to have his day in hell for that. I wouldn’t want that karma.” As for the United States making new enemies, Petty opines: “When you kill somebody’s little sister with a missile, he’s going to hate you forever. And the next generation will hate you even more.”

Alpert tried to give Democrats some breathing space to recover if Blumenthal implodes, and they may well live to regret having gagged him instead of taking his advice.

Amazing how all a liberal has to do to be rewarded by the Democratic Party is to screw up big time. And more amazing still that the Democratic Party, and die-hard Liberals and Progressives, seem to have totally divorced themselves from any moral and/or ethical trappings in their political dealings.

All one can hope for is that by the November Midterm Elections enough voters will have recognized just how corrupt the Democratic Party has become, and bury the party and give sitting incumbents the heave-ho. And keep them there for at least a generation while we undo the damage they’ve done to America.

Lying, especially about military service, is a resume enhancement for Democrats just look at Tom Harkin. Democrats only care about one thing and that’s winning the election. They must feel they have a better shot at winning with a liar than they do with someone else.

I say the reason they believe this is because they never have to make the press calculation. Republicans know that, if something like this came out, the press would be merciless and the number of front page stories would never end, think “macaca”. As you think of “macaca” think that the Washington Post isn’t putting out negative stories about Blumenthal, sort of says it all, doesn’t it?

Well, Democrats in Connecticut have shown they can do the right thing, like when they elected Leiberman instead of the Move-on supported candidate. It’s always possible they could do it again, but I’m not counting on it.

When HA first posted about this fabulist, the consensus was that he wouldn’t survive. I opined that not only would he survive, he’d likely win in deep, deep blue CT. Now lets’ see if the good voters of CT can prove me a prophet. Since Democrats appeared interested in nothing but power, I believe that they will do so.

Why is this shocking? Most Democrats don’t care if you lie,cheat or steal as long as your “progressive” enough.
What did that women say about Clinton?, “As long as he keeps abortion legal, then I don’t care if he received oral sex from an intern”
This the what we are dealing with folks.

Since Simmons is staying in for the GOP primary, Blumenthal will probably be exposed to sharp attacks from Simmons, who IS a REAL Vietnam veteran. EVen if Simmons eventually loses the primary, this issue won’t go away, and the Dems will be stuck with Bloomy, no time to pull a Torricelli/Lautenberg switcheroo.

Former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Boorda, was driven to suicide by the crap he had to endure at the hands of the media. That was for the unspeakable crime of wearing a ribbon for which he could not produce a citation authorizing its wear.

Blumenthal on the other hand, lies about combat service and he along with the media suckups, treat it as a simple slip of the tongue. What dicks! and What balls!